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The Nuclear Energy Debate among Friends: Another Round « A Musing Environment

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:01:33 -0700

'What are we thinking when we ignore the findings of the scientific community? How are we choosing which "scientists" to believe? It is important to examine the sources we choose and why we place faith in them, as fundamental differences in what we read and whom we trust affect where we plant the banner of our activism. ... I am sometimes baffled at the degree of distrust of the mainstream scientific community among Friends.' Posted by Johan Maurer

Wess Daniels on meeting new challenges through repetition

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:23:56 -0700

Like every movement, the first generation is made up of visionaries, and the fire and zeal needed to get the thing up and running. Subsequent generations struggle, not only with living in the shadow of the first generation, but they also lived in light of a changed culture, a new time, and new questions. No generation can simply continue to do what those before it did if it wants to remain faithful in its time and place. One main question every generation must ask, is not what needs to be recollected, or core truth to be retrieved, from that first generation but what gesture must we undertake in order to be faithful to the call (of the Kingdom). That is, what pattern that must be repeated, rather than truth recollected? Posted by Martin Kelley

LizOpp with reflections about FGC Gathering

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:22:33 -0700

Visits with Friends along the way in Indiana, the Gathering itself (and the tragic death there) and her and it's plans for 2010. Posted by Martin Kelley

Quaker Oats Cherice: Feminist and Quaker views on revelation

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:18:58 -0700

One of the main questions feminists ask is, "Whose experience counts?" Barclay deals with this obliquely by saying that everyone can experience God. But the problem is, what do we do with tradition? Posted by Martin Kelley

Shane Claiborne at FGC Gathering says it's time that Christianity got a makeover - Roanoke.com

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:13:31 -0700

Claiborne told the group he is disturbed that a recent survey of perceptions of Christians by non-Christians found the faith most characterized as anti-gay, judgmental and hypocritical. "We've got a little bit of an identity crisis," he told the group. "We have so much to say with our mouths and so little to do with our lives." Posted by LizOpp

Bill Clendineng asks for prayers for Western Yearly Meeting as it deals with controversies

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:13:14 -0700

There will be one item of business that has already drawn a lot of interest and generated a lot of discussion. The Yearly Meeting Board on Christian Ministries and Evangelism is recommending that Phil Gulley's recording as a minister with WYM be rescinded because of substantial disunity with WYM Faith and Practice. Unfortunately, over the years this process seems to have generated more heat than light. Posted by Martin Kelley

Social Class Jeanne wants us to break the rules

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:17:27 -0700

I still want to change social class rules because as Quakers, if we believe in equality, we not only should break the rules in our own lives, we should be trying to change the rules. We like to think of ourselves as rule changers. Unfortunately, we're only upsetting the power structure sometimes. Posted by Martin Kelley

News Op/Ed: Quakers show value of looking hard at history

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:50:50 -0700

After revisiting its past, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting cannot rightfully take credit for the heroic efforts of individual Quakers who jeopardized their livelihoods - and, in some cases, their lives - to end slavery. Many of these abolitionists were in fact alienated or disowned by the meeting leadership. To admit that historical fact is a necessary first step in thoughtful discussion and constructive action on race. Posted by Martin Kelley

Timothy Travis on Bonnie Tinker

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:16:21 -0700

I told them that working with Bonnie Tinker changed me--changed us, because they were along much of the time. Sometimes I dreaded a call from Bonnie because she was involved with hard, hard stuff and was calling to involve me and my family in it. And I knew we had to be there, that we wanted to be there; it's just that it was so hard, what she took on, it demanded so much. Sometimes I wasn't strong enough (yet?) to be responsible--to respond as I wanted to--to her call. And sometimes I was. Posted by Martin Kelley

Aj Schwanz on the difference between youth ministry and youth groups

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:55:23 -0700

In my history of being part of faith communities I realized that those who are "group"-oriented seem more clubish, more "come in, be one of us", more fractured, more self-interested. Those that were “ministry”-0riented thought of the bigger picture, had more awareness of the each other, practiced more over-arching hospitality. And in my faith gathering we have many ministries, but not a lot of groups … but the places where there are groups, we seem to have more lack of communication and conflict with each other. Posted by Martin Kelley

Eileen Flanagan: Remembering Bonnie Tinker #fgc09

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 07:01:31 -0700

[It] struck me last night was the clarity about what's important. When people were remembering Bonnie, no one said, "What a beautiful house she had," or "What fine clothes." They remembered her spirit, her dedication, her passion—things that don't add to one’s carbon footprint. As I try to figure out how to wrap up a workshop on the Serenity Prayer, I’m left with the thought that in addition to grief, the loss of a friend can give us clarity about our priorities and our purpose. Posted by Martin Kelley

Friend and activist Bonnie Tinker dies in bike accident at FGC Gathering

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 05:20:36 -0700

There's more about this tragedy on various Facebook pages and Twitter streams. Bonnie is most well known for her work with Love Makes a Family. Posted by Martin Kelley

Boy in the Bands Scott Wells: Quaker “cross cringe” — ah, sounds familiar

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:19:28 -0700

Unitarian Universalist Christians use a few terms — Christophobia, cross cringe and ABC ("anything but Christian") — to describe the reception we get in unfriendly settings. A posting today at QuakerQuaker shows that the problem — or perhaps a like problem — isn't uniquely Unitarian Universalist. A shame that. Perhaps, too, an opportunity. Posted by Martin Kelley

Alice on how to reach those hostile to Christian language

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:53:39 -0700

How do we make such people welcome and address their fears whilst at the same time not tolerating hatred of Christ or people who follow him? It's not a loving favour to indulge the spiritually wounded. Our indulgence of each other is spiritually dangerous and I believe I have seen it pretty much kill the spirit of a Meeting. How do we challenge wounded people to heal? Posted by Martin Kelley

New blog: QQQQandA from the Quaker Information Center

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:42:18 -0700

The QIC's site at http://www.quakerinfo.org/ is already a great resource but with this new blog they're answering some of the more interesting and "meaty" questions that are posed to them. Posted by Martin Kelley

Noli Lynn: Social and civic responsibility--and blogging as activism?

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:06:22 -0700

There are some situations where blogging can be a real form of activism; you can see that both in the way countries like Iran try to contain their bloggers, and in the way politicians in the US try to appeal to netroots. But, on the other hand, for a small time blogger like myself, a lot of the time it feels more like a hobby, even a time sink, chatting with online friends, than real activism. Should I sometimes be getting off the blog, and doing other things? Posted by Martin Kelley

Mark W looks at Bible translations & Friends understandings

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 06:22:48 -0700

As Friends, I think we need to be especially aware that our understanding of the bible often differs from the traditional protestant view, and that despite the best efforts of the translators, various bible translations do tend to carry along the doctrinal views of the translators. While we must still rely on the Holy Spirit for illumination of the text, I think it helps if the text does reflect the original inspired message. Posted by Martin Kelley

RantWoman and the RSOF

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:00:52 -0700

RantWoman's Meeting includes people who hold quite diverse views about abortion, real estate, Republicans, Democrats, non-ocrats. RantWoman herself has for a long time walked among goddess-worshippers, godless science addicts and supposedly soulless commies. RantWoman generally feels that Meeting for Worship is in the hands of the Divine and that sharing worship is good for almost anyone. Posted by Chris M

Qr Ranter Martin on the Conservative Friends Gathering 2009

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:33:09 -0700

Pictures from this weekend's gathering of Conservative Friends (Quakers), held in Lancaster County PA and hosted by Keystone Fellowship Friends Meeting of Ohio Yearly Meeting Conservative. Posted by Chris M

Friendly Funnel on A Gathered Popcorn Meeting

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 11:34:44 -0700

Friends were in unity... And this fruit of action was sown by seeds planted in a Popcorn Meeting, a Meeting I dismissed as not counting as "real" worship. Posted by Robin M

Tania offer her introduction as a Buddhist Quaker

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:37:00 -0700

I took refuge in the Buddha, the dharma, and the sangha. And I am no less a Quaker for doing so. I find that so much of Quakerism and Buddhism is complementary. We Quakers have started using the term "right relationship", "right action". Right Action is also a Buddhist term. Posted by LizOpp

Micah's Ministry Newsletter #7, in which he reports about Great Plains Yearly Meeting

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:47:10 -0700

I told them that I was concerned that we have become as formal as the Pharisees or the Christians of George Fox's day, mistaking routine for virtue and form for substance. I told them that I loved them all, and I begged them to humble themselves and open themselves to the presence of Christ in their hearts, to follow that inward guidance. Because the status quo hasn't been working for a long time. Posted by LizOpp

Martin continues to learn about the discernment of self-sacrifice, loss and pride

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:47:10 -0700

The answer isn't to give up testimonies or to hold onto them even tighter, but instead to constantly remind ourselves about their purpose: to learn how to live as an attentive people of God. Posted by LizOpp

Why not call yourself a christian, like Lucretia? - Alice M Yaxley on Quaker Quaker

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:17:54 -0700

'Love really exists; it is manifest every day, people do incredible things to feed their children and to help strangers. Praise God, Love is Real! Why is it hard to admit that is following Jesus? To me it comes across as deceit to deny that the experience of unity with Jesus in scripture is the foundation of our church. We need truth in advertising, we can't pretend that Quakers are not christians, the truth is important. ... Enlighten me?' Posted by Johan Maurer

Emerging Diane on Quaker education

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:55:02 -0700

I'd like to talk about Quaker education. What makes a school Quaker? ... Should the Quaker community do more to support its schools? Posted by Chris M

Gathering in Light: We Too Need an “I’m Sorry Day”: Concerning the Recent Abortion Murder

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 23:38:15 -0700

'Matching wrongful behavior with more wrongful behavior continues the logic of the world, and ultimately displays our own disbelief in the power of God's kingdom to bring about redemption and salvation amidst sin and destruction.' Posted by Johan Maurer

A Passionate and Determined Quest for Adequacy: Filled with Light

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:11:31 -0700

'It makes me feel a little sad that it seems like one group gets to be associated with Pentecost, and that in my circle of liberal Friends, those associations are generally negative.' Posted by Johan Maurer

Liz on the Quaker blog reader... coming very soon

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 09:04:48 -0700

I wanted to share a few more specifics about the upcoming book... The title will be Writing Cheerfully On The Web: A Quaker Blog Reader. Posted by Chris M

Steve Smith on The Joy of Quaker Committees

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:06:40 -0700

Featured at Western Friend blog: I have also been blessed by Quaker committees in which members happily looked forward to meeting with each other, and when gathered, brought all of themselves into the room, ready to share intimately from their lives. Posted by Chris M

Quaker Take Timothy on Being Alone...or not.

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:13:13 -0700

[A] young man told me that he didn't like to be alone.... Quakers have addressed this phenomenon. Fox, Penington and others in the first generation saw this as Christ, or the Light, or the Spirit working in us—showing us the parts of our lives, as manifested in these uncomfortable thoughts, that need to be addressed. Posted by Chris M

Mark W. tries Fox's Epistle 10 in Modern English

Wed, 27 May 2009 11:19:16 -0700

"To Friends, to stand still in trouble, and see the strength of the Lord." Posted by Chris M

Mark W. on Experiences of the Light Among Early Friends, Pt 2

Wed, 27 May 2009 11:18:22 -0700

Healing may have played a bigger role among early Friends than we know. There was once a text by George Fox called the Book of Miracles... in which Fox recorded over 150 incidents of people being healed. Posted by Chris M

Jeanne shares ministry not otherwise shared at MfW

Sat, 23 May 2009 12:50:14 -0700

When my human heart fails / your golden cord to God reminds me / to love you. Posted by LizOpp

Alice M. Yaxley: Scott McKnight on gospel and community - Quaker Quaker

Thu, 21 May 2009 15:16:42 -0700

Alice poses some stark questions about the gap between evangelical promise and reality ... and whether Friends have a ghost of a chance of filling that gap--not just in theory, but in life. Posted by Johan Maurer

A Passionate and Determined Quest for Adequacy: Travelers on the Road

Thu, 21 May 2009 15:10:36 -0700

'It is almost as if when Sarah and I travel together, she is the lightning rod for messages that I feel led to give.' An ancient and gorgeous insight. Posted by Johan Maurer

Liz Opp on The Quaker Blog Reader meets the FGC Gathering

Thu, 21 May 2009 12:03:39 -0700

My goal is to have the Quaker blog reader available by June 23 and hopefully about a week earlier. And news of a title and foreword! Posted by Chris M

Flexible Forms Jay ponders Technology for learning. Technology for worship?

Wed, 20 May 2009 20:22:14 -0700

Is there a technology to teach the insights and skills of silent worship? Quakerism is not something I believe so much as something I practice. The teaching techniques shouldn't rely on some set of words, or books to read. It's more likely that we’ll get the hang of opening ourselves to the Light by a set of practical exercises. Posted by Chris M

Liz Wants Ideas for title for Quaker blog reader

Fri, 15 May 2009 14:02:15 -0700

From time to time, I step away from the computer and the typesetting and the copying-and-pasting, and I begin to consider what This Thing wants to be called, other than "the Quaker blog reader." Posted by Chris M

Serene Eileen Breathes, Laughs

Thu, 07 May 2009 13:05:27 -0700

Last night I attended the book launch for Friends Council on Education's new publication, Tuning In: Mindfulness in Teaching and Learning.... Unlike most book launches, the evening was designed to be experiential. Posted by Chris M

Liz writes about My version of pacifism

Wed, 06 May 2009 20:29:06 -0700

a way to send a message that bullying, harassing, ridiculing, and assaulting fellow students based on their gender identity or sexual orientation, real or perceived, is NOT okay. Posted by Robin M

Simon on A Liberal Quaker at Liberty

Wed, 06 May 2009 13:14:25 -0700

Liberty University, that is. (The Unlikely Disciple by Kevin Roose.) Posted by Chris M

Angelina reflects on working with the editors for new youth book

Sun, 03 May 2009 18:55:24 -0700

they became curious about where we were all from and why we were all together - a native Oregonian, an East Coaster, a Brit, a Bolivian, a Kenyan. We explained then, each in our own eloquence (we're writers and editors after all), and it was then that I muttered something about "Many branches of the Quaker church." Posted by Robin M

Micah's latest Ministry Newsletter

Sun, 03 May 2009 18:43:47 -0700

I have covered a lot of ground since my last newsletter, traveling well over a thousand miles and visiting Friends in Manhattan, Topeka and Lawerence, Kansas; Kansas City, Missouri; and Kearney, Central City, and Grand Island, Nebraska. In addition, I have continued my work in Wichita. I have met with individuals, as well as being invited to speak to the youth of Crossroads Friends Church. I have also continued to assist the Mennonite Church of the Servant's addiction recovery program. Posted by Robin M

Johan posts Notes from Woodland (with an example of small town discipline)

Sun, 03 May 2009 18:38:45 -0700

This was my second experience of the hospitality and friendliness of the Woodland community, including the descendants of the Quakers who originally arrived from Kansas and settled in the newly opened territory at the end of the 19th century. Posted by Robin M

Walkin' Darcy in Monteverde, Costa Rica, on the Walk With Earth

Sat, 02 May 2009 20:06:42 -0700

Monteverde is a community in the cloud forest of Costa Rica, started by a few Quakers who moved there in 1951 after being jailed for refusing to sign up for the draft during the Korean war. They chose Costa Rica because it is the only nation without a military and because the area of Monteverde was a good place to move their dairy farming. Posted by Chris M

Beliefs are to Reason With, Faith is to Die For « among Friends

Sat, 02 May 2009 12:05:49 -0700

'Faith stands always ready to show itself through works (James 2:17-18) and to do its works through love (Galatians 5:6). No love, no works; no works, dead faith. And faith dead, right belief is truth locked in a box whose key is lost.' Posted by Johan Maurer

Liz is making progress on the new Quaker blog reader

Sat, 02 May 2009 10:18:45 -0700

As I'm working on this project, I feel like I have a responsibility to strike a balance between offering what the reader seeks or wants and offering what the reader--and the wider Religious Society of Friends--might wrestle with and grow from. Posted by Robin M

Hystery on Spoken Minstry Part 2

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 21:36:40 -0700

So how do we know [a message is true]? In one word, my answer is "depth." We must learn how to seek it, learn how to use it, and learn how to lose ourselves to it. How do we achieve depth? Preparation. Posted by Chris M

Pam Ferguson at barclaypress.com: Dear Phillip

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:48:52 -0700

'It was an angry, trapped 29 year old who beat up a guard and escaped from the county jail 6 years ago to break into my home. I think you were probably as surprised as I was with the encounter.' (Note book recommendation in the comments: Reading the Bible with the Damned, by Bob Ekblad.) Posted by Johan Maurer

Peggy meets a preacher of That Which Boggles

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:52:35 -0700

He can describe being ... an attentive enough observer that he reaches a plane where he bumps into truth so amazing that all the mind can do is boggle – gaze in rapt awe – try to accept what it can only incompletely comprehend. ... He calls this science. I, of course, have the same experience and call it religion. Posted by Robin M

Dan knows Coffee is an act of love (and quotes Bart Campolo)

Thu, 16 Apr 2009 22:31:48 -0700

...When I see that people are getting together in the church basement after services to plan out who's going to move in with whom after people start to lose their jobs and their houses, when I see that churches are beginning to plan out how they will be eating together, then the church will seem relevant to me... Posted by Robin M

Martin thinks the Movement for a New Society is the Old New Monastics

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 22:20:07 -0700

The high-profile new monastics rarely seem to give any props to Quakers or MNS, but I'd be willing to bet if you sat in on any of their meetings the process would be much more inspired by MNS than Robert's Rules of Order or any fifteenth century monastic rule that might be cited. Posted by Robin M

cubbie starts linking together pieces of religion, ministry, and Quakerism

Sun, 12 Apr 2009 20:04:57 -0700

finally i remember that ministry is part of just being a quaker. i can be clumsy and bratty and new and wide-eyed, and i can work on the flaws in that, but it's all part of cubbie the quaker minister, just by my living… my questions… and my seams. Posted by LizOpp

Paul L.'s Palm Sunday meditation

Sat, 11 Apr 2009 20:21:09 -0700

While I can't say that I've ever had as dramatic experience as the first-generation apostles as described by Luke, over the years I’ve had enough glimpses of the Living Christ’s presence in the midst of the waiting community that I have kept coming to wait with them. Posted by Robin M

Unless a Grain of Wheat Falls: The Church in 25 years » gathering in light - “Do not go gentle into that good night.”

Sat, 11 Apr 2009 11:31:58 -0700

'In John 12:24-25 we are shown that the church is born with a sort of auto-deconstruct mode, as John Caputo puts it. The Church is only the signifier of the kingdom, always subject to the movements and call of God's Holy Spirit. There are times it will, even needs to, fall to the ground in order for rebirth.' Posted by Johan Maurer

Graham G starts up a blog to highlight Quaker books at QuakerBooks

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 08:20:44 -0700

I run this blog separately from the QuakerBooks website so it doesn't get tarred with my poor spelling and grammar! Posted by LizOpp

Richard on Travelling in the Electronic Ministry

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:17:04 -0700

distinguishing between electronic intervisitation and electronic ministry Posted by Robin M

Timothy of One Quaker Take answers Daniels questions about Beanites, pacifism, and empirical spirituality as a Friend

Sun, 05 Apr 2009 08:28:07 -0700

I get direct guidance every day on how to live my life and I try (at least anymore) not to worry too much about where it comes from, the nature of the source of that guidance, or what that source is up to in providing me that guidance. It is hard enough to follow the guidance, let alone figure out what no person can ever really know. Posted by LizOpp

Bill C. on Silence and Listening

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 21:07:56 -0700

Extended silence changes the way I hear things, in the same way that three days of world-class jazz changed the way I heard things. Posted by Robin M

Friendly Circle - Cincinnati: Friends and seeking divine guidance together

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 09:32:47 -0700

'Okay, we're so diverse. (By the way, so is every church--there is a range of theology, a multiplicity of cultures & politics within every church!) So... I do wonder, when will Friends just "get over it"? And accept our diversity, agree to get along? Could Friends then invest more time & energy on our personal and corporate faith & practice--and less on defining our identity & drawing boundaries with Friends & meetings who are, or are not, "like-minded"?' Posted by Johan Maurer

Peacemaking Starts With Giving

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:30:38 -0700

'When I moved to Idaho, I had to take a test to get an Idaho driver's license. I'd been driving for five years, but I was nervous about failing the test, so I spent hours memorizing the Idaho Driver's Manual. I remember a piece of wisdom I discovered in the section on 4-way stops.' Posted by Johan Maurer

Ashley W rethinks the existence of Quaker rituals and rules

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 20:51:06 -0700

...the seeker gave his message. A little while later, another Friend had a message. As she finished, the seeker rose to speak again and Friends asked him to stop. The seeker was upset and said that he didn't understand the rules. Posted by LizOpp

What Canst Thou Say?: Blogging as ministry

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 15:47:45 -0700

Robin M writes about blogging as ministry: "...Quaker blogs are part of an ongoing conversation about what is happening in our spiritual lives, including events we go to, books we read, theological questions we wrestle with, and our everyday joys and concerns. They offer a chance to stay in touch with Friends in a substantive way, between conferences, meetings, without travel costs, and often with photos of mutual Friends." Posted by C Wess Daniels

Chad revisits Beyond print: Quakers and the media (revisited)

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 14:34:45 -0700

It seems like these days, new media forms are challenging the old for eyeballs, multimedia has become more searchable with help from the Internet, and people are moving more toward the online world for actual interaction with media, rather than simply letting it reflect. Posted by Robin M

Heather from Still Life reflects on simplicity and electronic consumption

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 10:46:23 -0700

I'm starting to see that [simplicity] is not just a matter of avoiding conspicuous consumption, or refusing to follow fashion, but is a concept that can be applied to every part of our lives. ...Was I reading all this stuff [online] because it was important to me, and really entertained and informed me - or was it just habit? Did it all nourish me? Posted by LizOpp

David Perry's blog on Friendly Learning

Sat, 28 Mar 2009 15:44:50 -0700

This blog is intended to share the framework of an adult religious education program, the materials, and the resulting experiences so that others with an interest in adult religious education in the Religious Society of Friends may benefit... This blog is under the care of the Ministry and Counsel committee of Davidson Friends Meeting as approved by the Meeting on 3/22/2009. The blogger's sense of leading to this ministry is also under the care of Ministry and Counsel. Posted by LizOpp

Micah’s Ministry Newsletter #3

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:13:27 -0700

My ministry of intervisitation and prayerful listening is continuing here in Wichita, Kansas, as I prepare to reach out to Friends communities in Oklahoma, Northern Kansas, Texas and Nebraska. Posted by LizOpp

Will T on the rectification of labels within Quakerism

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 12:03:11 -0700

So what Quaker phrases would I like to rectify today? I have two candidates. In the interest of full disclosure, these are both terms that I have used but I have come to disfavor them. The first one is "Christocentric." ...[The second is] "dual-affiliated yearly meetings." Posted by LizOpp

Cat remembers falling in love with God

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 11:24:10 -0700

What I mean is, that sense, that feeling of deep and timeless immersion in the beloved...that's it. *That's* what happens, on a good day, when I worship. Posted by LizOpp

reconciliation papers: The Wind Blows Where It Wishes

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 01:16:02 -0700

'We cannot grow towards Christlikeness if we insist that God work with us only in the ways we prescribe and in the forms we are comfortable with.' Posted by Johan Maurer

John of Queer3 describes his growing concern of how to respond to Quaker homophobia

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 21:45:41 -0700

I have been carrying this concern since hearing an epistle read at [Pacific Yearly Meeting] a couple years ago. The epistle was dated August 30, 2006, and stated, "Gay is contrary to scriptures and nature. Even the tiniest crawling creatures observe strictly God's command...." and that "[We] shall not team up with any group that proclaims this immoral conduct." The epistle was from East Africa Yearly Meeting. Posted by LizOpp

The peace of Christ for those with ears to hear - The Quaker Ranter

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 19:50:17 -0700

Friends have a lot of accumulated wisdom about what it means the primitive Christian life, even if we're pretty rusty on its actual practice. What shape would that witness take and who would join us into that unknown but familiar desert? What would our movement even be called? And does it matter? Posted by C Wess Daniels

stayingthecourse - predestination and election

Sun, 08 Mar 2009 19:35:12 -0700

'Truth isn't confounding. It's liberating and nearly always ridiculously simple. I want to be teachable. But I don't want to be naive, nor do I want to be spiritually sucker-punched into adopting something as a belief just because it makes sense to someone who everyone else believes is "really smart."' Posted by Johan Maurer

Ashley W. writes about Ashless Wednesday

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 22:13:37 -0800

A lot of the ideas we came up with in our plain discussion are really good ideas. And if we all did them, it would probably make the world a better place. But our task as Friends is not to be the best liberal democrats we can be. As I was reminded last weekend, we are supposed to listen to God and live up to the light we are given. The real question is, what is God calling us to do? Posted by Robin M

Ashley W says Deus Ibi Est

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 21:17:45 -0800

Throughout the weekend, some found bits that they had been missing through expectant worship, prayer, reading the Bible, singing, and talking to others. But it also seemed clear by the end that we had not resolved anything and there was still a lot of work to do. Posted by Robin M

Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ - Truth In Labeling « zoecarnate

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 04:44:50 -0800

'But let's give credit where credit is due: Don't you think that Quakers, or the Brethren, or any number of other such reforming/purifying groups had ideals - and even experiences - like what you’re describing, at the very least in their early days?' Posted by Johan Maurer

Margaret Fell's Red Dress

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:05:45 -0800

The Quaker Ranter tells the story of Margaret Fell's red dress. The story goes that one day Margaret wore a red dress to Meeting. Another Friend complained that it was gaudy. She shot back in a letter that it was a "silly poor gospel" to question her dress. In my branch of Friends, this story is endlessly repeated out of context to prove that "plain dress" isn't really Quaker. (I haven't looked up to see if I have the actual details correct--I'm telling the apocryphal version of this tale.) Posted by C Wess Daniels

AFRICA GREAT LAKES REFLECTION: Taking the initiative from the actors of violence | Christian Peacemaker Teams

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 14:25:18 -0800

'History is being defined by actors of nonviolence rather than actors of violence.' Posted by Johan Maurer

Will T on Bloggers of Truth

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:10:50 -0800

Will T discusses what it means to be "bloggers of truth." "Some of us would like to adopt the name Publishers of Truth. However, before we can be publishers we need to be possessors. We give lip service to following the Inner Guide, but we want to circumscribe the areas where we will do so." Posted by C Wess Daniels

Kody H on "To Teach His People Himself"

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:08:41 -0800

Kody discusses the importance of Jesus and truth in our mediated culture. "In this, the first decade of the 21st century, Friends have access to a tremendous range of media for sharing our faith, communicating our convictions, and publishing our understanding of Truth. However, in order to make use of these resources, we must first have a clear sense of our message." Posted by C Wess Daniels

Plenary Session Recordings | Heeding God’s Call: A Gathering on Peace

Sat, 17 Jan 2009 09:25:18 -0800

The audio from the plenary sessions and worship from the peace gathering. Posted by C Wess Daniels

beautiful mundane - thoughts on "a new kind of quakerism" conference in greensboro, nc

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:12:31 -0800

Betsy writes -- ...I guess I realized this weekend at the Quaker conference in Greensboro, that we want change and we imagine how alive we would feel, and how radical the world could be—these high visions—but when it comes to the point of sacrifice, possible surrender to the unknown or certain discomfort—we stop short. Posted by C Wess Daniels

Chris M.: Convergent Friends and the Daily Kos

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 23:04:46 -0700

Chris asks - How can we better see the conventional wisdom of whichever branch of Friends we're part of, and move the conversation? Posted by C Wess Daniels

Holy Ordinary: Quaker Thoughts on Life: A Final Thought for Convergent Friends October

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 20:43:42 -0700

Can convergent Friends be a movement around relationships and "a place where thoughtful, caring dialogue can continue?" Brent sure hopes so! Posted by C Wess Daniels

Convergent Friends #1 | Gregg’s Gambles

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:56:11 -0700

ne of the biggest reasons I was originally drawn to Friends is also the bedrock for convergence. We've begun a series on the book of Galatians, and the life-changing power of that letter from Paul is to refuse to let relationship with God devolve into religion. An active life in the Spirit, refusing to be codified, separated, parceled out or ritualized…this is the heart of our faith. A group of people, a community, a body, that refuses to draw boundary lines and separate into "acceptable" and "unacceptable." Posted by C Wess Daniels

Fire in the Bones: Going Back to Quaker Banking?

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 09:38:33 -0700

This sounds to me like a backhanded compliment. On the one hand, that something of the old Quaker ethic of sobriety, simplicity and living within our means would be a wholesome detox after years in which our society has binged on 'credit', in other word has got up to its ears and beyond in debt. On the other hand, that Quakers helped to build our crazy, usurious, unsustainable financial system, even if the Quaker bankers of old would be appalled at modern banking practices. Posted by C Wess Daniels

E m e r g i n g Q u a k e r: If Emergent is dead, what about Convergent?

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 09:38:33 -0700

However, I fear that Quakerism is going to go away, as I fear many mainline Protestant denominations will and most non-demoninational churches, because they've elevated being conformed to the society over the faith. I believe that, unless all of these bodies start more firmly embracing their Christian core, they will die. What will be left standing are the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. I think these churches have much to offer, but I also think the world would be poorer without Quakerism and the many varieties of Protestantism. Posted by C Wess Daniels

beautiful mundane

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:04:35 -0700

Betsy hears Shane Claiborne speak and relates it back to the publishers of truth. Posted by C Wess Daniels

Ecopornography, culture jamming& church | Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 10:41:44 -0700

Jarrod discusses ecopornography, empirewash and George Fox and Early Friends as a good example of Culture Jamming. Posted by C Wess Daniels

Reach up high, clear off the dust, time to get started - Quaker Ranter Blog

Sun, 08 Jun 2008 22:56:04 -0700

Martin discusses faith, bureaucracy and the bland. "The problem is that the same issues will face us wherever we try to go. It's modernism, baby. No focused and authentic faith seems to be safe from the Forces of the Bland. Lord help us." Posted by C Wess Daniels